Ten Reasons to learn Russian in Kiev

If you’re from the EU, US, Canada, Japan, South Korea, or Switzerland, you don’t need a visa to come to Ukraine if you’re going to stay less than 90 days.

No visa fees, no processing delays, no time without your passport, no hassle – simple!

From the end of the 9th century to the beginning of the 12th, the city of Kiev was the centre of the East Slavic state of Kievan Rus from which the countries of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus would emerge.

After the Mongol invasion of 1240, regional power shifted north, and by the 15th century was centred on Moscow. For centuries much of Ukraine was under the rule of the tsars or the communists in Moscow, until its independence in 1991.

Nowadays, the historical ties remain, and the Russian language still dominates in Ukraine’s capital. 85% of people use it as their first language, so not only will you be learning in the classroom, but also in your everyday interaction with people around you.

Violent crime, whether motivated by greed, racism or religious differences, is rare. Ukraine is a country without any international or internal conflicts, and acts of terrorism are unheard of in Kiev and elsewhere in Ukraine.

As is the case in many big cities, a vibrant night-life, a liberal cosmopolitan atmosphere and a jumble of personalities, nationalities and regionalities cannot exist without some level of crime. This mostly amounts to occasional pick-pocketing, and visitors are advised to take common-sense measures against petty theft.

Although things aren’t quite what they were in the nineties, you’ll find that most things here are much cheaper than in the west, or even in Moscow or St Petersburg.

And the recent fall in the value of Ukraine’s currency, the hryvnia, means you’ll get even more bang for your buck.

Food, transport, drinks, accommodation – the cost of living here is much lower than in the west, so you can enjoy your time here without worrying about your wallet.

Kiev offers an intriguing mix of cultures that reflect its location at the crossroads of Europe and Russia. Nowhere is this more evident than in the historical monuments around the city.

If beautiful places are your thing – Kiev is the place to come! And the best thing about these sites? They’re not overrun by tourists like in other cities such as Prague and Budapest.

There are also a number of interesting museums, including the Museum of Russian Art and the new Pinchuk Gallery, which displays modern art.

Think of Kiev as a city of morbid grey tower blocks? Think again. As well as its fair share of Soviet architecture, Kiev boasts quiet cobbled streets and a burgeoning café culture.

In winter, cafés provide a great place to warm up; in summer they sprawl out onto the streets to enjoy the fine weather. Summers here are hot, with temperatures around 30 degrees centigrade.

There are plenty of parks around the city to take a walk in – the largest is on the hill overlooking the Dnipro. One of the best things about Kiev is the fact that its centre really is navigable on foot. Kiev is also one of the safest and cleanest cities in Eastern Europe.

Forget about the gloomy faces that people associate with much of Eastern Europe, Ukrainians are known for their sunny temperament and warm hospitality.

Never afraid to swap a story or a kind word, Kievans are used to a slower pace of life than their Slavic cousins in Moscow.

Step onto a zebra crossing and cars will stop; watch as the person in front of you holds the door for in the metro. How many other cities in Eastern Europe would you see that?

Kiev has a wide range of entertainment for the evenings, whatever your taste.

There are a number of good restaurants, offering a taste of local cuisine, as well as Indian, Italian and Czech, to name but a few.

After dinner, enjoy a drink in a city centre bar, or head on to a concert, the opera or, if you are feeling brave, a play in Russian at one of the numerous theatres. Whatever your taste in food or culture, there’s something for you in Kiev.

There is always much more to a country than its capital, and Ukraine is no different.

Crimea in the south, with its sunny coastline and blue sea, is where the tsars used to enjoy their summers.

The Carpathian mountains are a beautiful site for walking and sports. Lviv in the west is a quaint old city where the Austro-Hungarian heritage seeps from the walls of its numerous cafés.

You may have heard that Ukrainian girls are extremely beautiful.

We should inform you that that is just a stereotype. But, as we all know, there’s always a little bit of truth in stereotypes!

After all, Olga Kurylenko, the latest Bond girl, is from Ukraine. What’s good enough for James Bond…